Maharashtra wants Belgaum be declared a UT

Mumbai: Even as the Supreme Court is yet to decide on the contentious issue, the Maharashtra government on Thursday demanded that Belgaum district be declared a union territory.

State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to press of the demand.

The decades old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka once again boiled over after pro-Marathi Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) controlled Belgaum City Corporation was superseded by the Karnataka government - on July 3 - for allegedly violating provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Act, 1976.

The MES had wants Belgaum city and 865 surrounding villages to be placed under Central government rule until the border dispute is resolved in the Supreme Court.